Home » Virginia TV News Reporter and Cameraman Shot and Killed During Live Broadcast
A Virginia news reporter and cameraman were shot and killed during a live broadcast on Wednesday morning.
Alison Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27, were shot and killed at a pedestrian plaza in Moneta, Virginia while filming a news story for WDBJ.
The New York Daily News reports:
In the video, Parker is interviewing Vicky Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, at Bridgewater Plaza about tourism in the area.
As they talk, about seven shots ring out. Parker and Gardner scream and take cover as Ward drops the camera.
A man standing near the two women, dressed in dark clothing and holding what appears to be a gun, is briefly seen in the news clip. He calmly steps away from the scene before the video cuts away.
WDBJ7 General Manager Jeff Marks said, “We do not know the motive. We do not know who the killer is. We do know that Franklin County sheriff… they are working very diligently to track down both the motive and the person responsible for this terrible crime against two fine journalists.”
The suspect was being pursued on I-64, according to Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.
“We believe he is a disgruntled employee of the TV station. Unfortunately he probably knew both of the victims,” McAuliffe said during an interview on WTOP radio.
I must say that is quite confusing. How is it that the general manager doesn’t know who the killer is, though he is seen in the video and yet, the governor believes the shooter to be a disgruntled employee?
The woman being interviewed was also injured during the shooting, but was taken to the hospital where she underwent surgery.
Mr. Ward was engaged to be married to a producer at WDBJ7, who watched the entire event unfold in the control room. He was planning on getting out of the media business soon.
Parker had been involved with WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst.
UPDATE: Reports are now coming in that police are searching for Vester Flanaga (aka Bryce Williams), an ex-WDBJ reporter.
BREAKING: police are now searching for @bryce_williams7 aka Vester Flanagan, fmr. reporter for WDBJ #CNN #shooting pic.twitter.com/aePWTCuJM9
— Amy La Porte (@AmyALaPorte) August 26, 2015
Then there is this. Why people seem to sense the need to write long manifestos is beyond me. Possible false flag?
ABC: “Sometime between Tuesday night and this morning, ABC News received a fax from someone claiming to be Bryce Williams.” 23 pages.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) August 26, 2015
UPDATE: Flanagan has apparently shot himself. WHSV reports:
Vester Lee Flanagan, the suspect in the WDBJ shooting, has shot himself. It’s unclear at this time if he is still alive.
It happened near mile marker 15 on Interstate 66.
UPDATE: And the plot thickens. Williams had succombed to his self-inflicted gun shots, but now we are not only learning that he was a racist, but he was a sodomite as well.
CBS news is reporting he sent them a “rambling” 28 page suicide note via fax and stated:
“–He says has suffered racial discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying at work. –He says he has been attacked by black men and white females. –He talks about how he was attacked for being a gay, black man“
Just as it is written of Judas after he hanged himself, “he went to his own place,” so the same could be said of Mr. Williams.
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